I hope against hope that this isn't true, but it is being reported online from good sources that Jef Murray has died suddenly. He is one of the few artists whose Tolkien pictures I enjoy and it feels very sad that there not only will be no picture this Tuesday but no more "Tolkien Tuesday" pictures ever. I only spoke to him online and briefly but I am sure others will have met him and know him better.

It is, very sadly, true that he has journeyed to the far green country under a swift sunrise. Confirmed by his wife and posted by Carl F. Hofstetter on the Mythopoeic Society's Facebook page. A sudden heart attack at the very young age of 55. Ted Nasmith also wrote a moving tribute to their friendship and Jef's contribution to the Tolkien community on his FB page.

I knew him slightly--bought Black and White Ogre Country from him and discussed with him his illustrations, which I thought captured the whimsy of the vignettes so well. He was a gracious and kind soul as well as a superb illustrator, although I have to admit that I found his interpretation of Tolkien too rigid and doctrinaire. Our world views were worlds apart. Yet he contributed much to the study of Tolkien and fantasy.

__________________I’ll sing his roots off. I’ll sing a wind up and blow leaf and branch away.